Trunk.



No. 880,058. PATENTBDl-FEB. 25, 1908. 0. T. & E. E. WILT.

TRUNK.

APPLIoATIoN FILED AUG. 1o. 190e. 4 SHEETS-SHEET `1.

o o Y f fs. l I cjmm l 2:1@ A an 1 m D b 1 Q D n i,

PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

C. T. & E. E. WILT.

TRUNK.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.10. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Evefzara Char! .y T LU l eff' I /l/ (if 'l No. 880,058. PATENTED FEB. 25

' C. T. & E. E. WILT.

TRUNK.

APPLIoATIoN FILED um. 1o. 190e.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 ,jaw/Zri @baffles Heffi LZ/ PATENTED PEB. '25, 1908.

G. T. & E. E. WILT.

' TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

narran s'rATns PATENT onirica.

CHARLES T. WILT AND ELMER WILT, OFCIIICAGO, ILL'INoIs'AssIGNons To CHAs. T. WILT, y or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A FIRM.

TRUNK.

No. scopes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rieb. 25, 190e.

To all whomtt may concern:

Be it known thatfwe, CHARLES T. WILT and ELMER E. WILT, citizens of the United States, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,.have.invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks; and we do hereby declare that the following is a ful-l, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had Ato the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference -marked thereon, whichi'orm a part of this specification..

This invention relates. to wardrobes, closets or other compartments, such for example as so called wardrobe trunks, wherein 'garments such as coats, trousers and the' like are contained in a hanging or suspended position.

lhile the invention is applicable alike to many uses such as portable or stationary closets .or wardrobes, trunks, lockers and the like, We have, for the sake of convenience merely, illustrated our invention as embodied in a trunk of the type known as wardrobe trunks.

The object of onr invention is to improve such a compartment in a manner to provide ready means forwithdrawing the suspended articles of apparel from 'the said compart ment without disturbing the vsuspended relation thereof, to provide means for suspending said articles, when withdrawn from said compartment, so that they are ready of access from all sides thereof: to improve and strengthen the devices for supporting the articles of apparel both when contained within the compartment and when withdrawn therefrom, and to produce an extension supporting device, for the articles of apparel which may be readily collapsed and folded in the compartment in which the articles are suspended.

The invention consists in the 'matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed `out in the appended claims.

inthe drawings z-Figure 1 is a perspective view of 'a wardrobe trunk embodying our invention, showing the trunk open and the suspended articles of apparel contained therein. Fig. 2 illustrates the upper end of the compartment for receiving the suspended articles .of apparel, showing the supporting rail and hangers for such articles. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner of supporting the suspende'd articles outside of said compartment.l

ig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section, taken on supported and by which t l line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the construction of the carriage on which aplparel hangers are ey may be with- 'drawn from the' trunk compartment. Fig. ,5 illustrates the joint between the stationary supporting rail for the",apparel hanger-s and the hinged extension rail, show-irgfportions of the trunk to which Asaid parts aredttached. 6 illustrates said parts in longitudinal section and also illustrating a portion of the hanger carriage in section. VFig. 7 is a bottom plan view of said parts as viewed from the position indicated by the arrows 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a transverse section, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a side view of the joint between the fixed and hinged portions of the rail, illustrating the hinged portion in its inoperative position. a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. V9. Fig. 11 illustrates the jointed connection between the rail extension and they hinged supporting standard therefor. Fig. 1-2 is an axial section of the parts shown in Fig. 11.

. Fig. 13 is across-section, taken on line 13--13 of Fig, 11. F ig..14 is a perspective view of a ring, constituting a stop for the telescopic standard. Fig. 15 is an axial section of the -rail extension and its telescopic standard, showing the latter occupying aI position partially within the hollow extension rail. Fig. 16 is an underside view, as shown from the position indicated by the arrows 16-16 of Fig. 15. l Ffg. 17 is a perspective view of the Fig. 10is extension rail detached from the other parts.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the lower end of the standard for said rail extension and the supporting base or foot therefor.

As shown in the drawings, the trunk comprises two general compartments'or halves A and B, hinged together to close one on the other. One of said compartments is iitted with a plurality of drawers A1 which, when the trunk is setting upon end and open, are available forl access thereto. 'lhe other compartment has a large free space designed to receive articles of apparel suspended from suitable hangers, and concerning which latter parts certain of our improvements relate. The said hangers and supporting rail therefor .are constructed and arranged to be contained nentirely within the compartment B when the articles of apparel are suspended therein, and said compartment is adapted to be closed by a door B1 hinged to oneside thereof as shown in Fig. 1. The garment thereto.

An apparel support embodying our invention embraces, in general terms, a fixed rail C located within the top ci the compartment base or B ofthe trunk and extending from i'rbnt to yrear thereof and designed to support .a suit- 'able carriage 'designated as a whole by G1 which carries a, lurality of hangers C2," and' an extension rai 1D that'is adaptedv to .be extended horizontally from the iixed rail' to support the carriage and hangers, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. .3,'and so constructed that when not in use, it-maybe contained Wholly within the compartment B las 'indicated in Fig. 1. The lsaid extension rail is supported at its outer end by a standard E that is hinged at itsupper end to the outer end of the rail extension' D and 'is provided yat its lower end with a suitable foot El which rests on the iloor when the extensionis withdrawn, and is supported on the lower wall Vof the compartment B of the trunk when the extension is folded within the compartment. Said base or toot oi. the standard is provided with laterally extending arms e c th at afford lateral stability to the base. TheA said fixed and extension rails are, in the present instance', shown as made hollow and the supporting standard E .of the extension rail is adapted to i'it in telescopic relation within the hollow extension rail at a time when the device is not in use, whereby the said standard and i extension lmay be contained within practically the vertical space occupied by the extension alone when the latter is swung downwardly about its hinge DI.

Certain features oi the construction involved inthe iixed supporting rail and its extension and the carriage for the garment hangers embody portions of our invention. Such features of 4construction are shown in detail in Figs. 'l to l0, inclusive, and will now be described. The said fixed horizontal section of the rail is mounted at its ends in brackets c cx attached to the top wall of the compartment B at the iront and rear sides thereof.l The extension rail D is hinged to the forward bracket c1 by being provided. at its inner end with laterally separated lugs or ears d d which are pivotally connected with the brackets by means of hingestuds d1. The said joint is strengthened, when the extensionrail occupies its horizontal position, by means of a locking stud d2 that extends through registering openings in one of the liaws or ears dl and in the bracket.

The fixed and extension rails are so constructed that the hanver carriage, which is supported on the fixed rail when the trunk is closed, is adapted to be shifted outwardly on the extension rail, asl/shown in Fig. 3

without detaching the carriage or disarranging the suspended positins of' the garments on the hangers. The hinged joint between said rails is ci special construction to permit of this operation. As herein shown, said rails are tubular and are -pro vided on their lower sides with alined longitudinal slots d3 d4 and the bracket c* is provided with a slot c2 connecting the slots of 'I g the rails. The carriage is provided with iront end rearsuspending bracketse3 that extend through said slots d3 d* into the tubular rails, and said brackets are preferably provided with roller bearingsl to iaeilitatethe movement of the carriage along the supporting rails. I

The carriage herein shown comprises an elongated loop c* which is swung from the lower ends of the han in Abrackets c3 and on the lower member o w 'eh are suspended the hangers C. riage within Ithe tubular, slotted rails consist of axles c5 mounted in transverse openings in the hanging brackets c3 and provided at their ends with wheels e6 c"engaginr the interior eef se The bearings for said car J surface of the tube. Preferab y the wheels c 'aref made of vulcanized fiber or like nonresonant material, whereby movement of the carriage inwardly and outwardlyon the rail produces no objectionable noise. The said.

wheels 'are beveled on theirperipheries to' correspond to theeylindric inner surface oi the tube, as shown in Fig. 4i, therebypro- ,viding ample bearing between: said wheels and the tubular rail. The openings inl said hanger brackets which receive the axles c5 are formed vand arranged to provide seats for anti-friction spherical rollers' c7 which faciliu tate the rotation of said axles in their bearings. i

`Referring now to the hinged connection of the standard E with the cuter end of the extension rail D, and the telescopic connection thereof with said rail, whereby said standard may be forced baekwardly into the interior of the rail extension for the purpose stated, said arts are made as fol ows: rlhe said stan ard may be and is preferably made of a section of tube of prefer length, and is provided at its upper en with a plug e1 formed to provide one lug or ear ot the hinged connection.

Located within the tubular, slot-- ted rail extension and having sliding enga ement therewith, is a block F that is provi ed 'with laterally separated lugs or earsf which iit ouside ofthe hinge lng e2 and are-connected therewith by a pivot pin f1. vlhecomplete withdrawal of said sliding block F from the tubular rail extension is prevented by means or' a stop located at the outer end of said ex tension rail, having the form; as herein shown, of a ring G that isI riveted or otherwise suitably fixed in said hollow rail exten- Sion. The sliding block F, on which is formed a.A part of the hinge-connection besaddestween the supporting standard and rail eXtension, is provided with a downwardly directed lug f2 which engages the slot d4 of said rail extension and prevents rotation of the block and the hinge connected standard relative to said rail extension. The vstop ring G is shown as provided on its inner margin,l in line with said lug with a notch g designed to receive said lug f 2 when the standard is at the outer limit of its movement and is swun0 downwardly in position to support the rai extension. The parts are so disposedat the time when the lug so occupies said notch q and the standard is swung downwardly at right angles to the rail extension, that the plug e? at the upper end of said standard bears closely against the end of the ring and rail extension so as to produce a firm and reliable joint at this place and safely support thel weight of the garments supported on said ral v inasmuch as the surface upon which the base or foot E1 of the standard rests when the rail is extended into its outermost position and supported by the standard E, is lower than the bottom wall of the compartment B, it is desirable to make the foot El vertically adjustable relatively to the standard En As herein shown, this is accomplished by making the 'l'oot separate'from the standard and providing it with; a shank E2 that ext-ends upwardly through the lower end ot' the hollovs7 standard. The shank of said foot. is connected with the standard by means of' a radially disposed pin e3 on the standard that engages a bayonet notch e4 formed at one side of a longitudinal slot e5 in said tubular standard. Said bayonet notch e is located at such distance from the end of the standard as to raise the latter the required distance when the pin is engaged therewith to hold the rail extension horizontal. Then the pin e3 of the shank E2 is turned into line with the slot e3 of said hollow standard, the standard may drop with its lower end engaged with the foot t1, so that when the standard is telescoped into the hollow rail extension and the latter swung down into the position shown in F ig. 1 the parts may pass readily into the compartment.

An important feature of the construction described is the continuous track or runway for the carriage, formed in this instance by the slots in the .fixed and extension rails and the hinge joint thereof, whereby the carriage and the suspended hangers may be moved outwardly and inwardly without disconnecting the hanger from the rail or disarranging the garments suspended on the hangers. Another important feature of the construction described, is the construction of the extension rail and the standard therefor described, as it permits the rail to be made of such'length that the articles of wearing apr parel suspended on the hangers may be withdrawn suflicientlyvfar away from the trunk `to permit lof a person having accessV to all sides of'a group of garments suspended therefrom, while permitting the rail extension and the standard to be contained wholly within the compartment when not in use. Other important' features of construction, which contribute to the ease and certainty of action of the device is the manner of mount'- ing the carriage on the supporting rail and extension, the character of the roller bearing lfor the carriage and the adjustable arrangement of the foot or base of. the standard The construction of the parts is such as te provide an amply strong and rigid connection of therelatively movable parts which promotes" the durability and strength of the device. y

l claim as my invention 1. The combination with a receiving compartment provided with a door, of a tubular, slotted rail iiXed to the upper wall of said compartment, a tubular, slotted extension rail hinged or pivotally connected to the fixed rail bya part supported. on said upper wall and independent .of said door, and a hanger suspending carriage provided with parts which extend through the slots of said rails and have hearing within the hollow rails,l the slots of the rails extending continuously from the stationary tothe extension rail, when the latter is in operative position, to forma continuous track for said carriage. u

2; The combination with a receiving compartment, of a fixed rail therein, a hanger suspending carri age movably mounted thereon, and a rail extension hinged direetlyto lthe fixed rail and designed to be folded in said compartment when not inl use, said fixed and extension rails be1ng.formed to provide 'a continuous way for the carriage whereby the latter may lie moved directly from the fixed rail to the extension rail and vice versa.

3. The combination with a receiving compartment, of a fixed, horizontal rail therein, an extension railra hinge directly connecting the latter rail with the fixedv rail, and a hanger sustaining carriage movable on said rails, the

, rails and hinge being arranged to constitute a continuous way for the carriagetopermit 1t to be `moved from one rail to the other. g

Ll. The combination with a receiving compartment provided with a laterally swinging door for closing the same, of a stationary rail fixed to the upper wall ot' the compartment, an extension rail hinged to the stationary rail by a part independent of lsaid door and which is supported on said'upper wall of the compartment, means for supporting the extension rail in horizontal alineine'nt with the stationary rail, tracks or ways on said rails arranged to constitute a continuous track from the stationary to the extension rail when thelatter occupies its horizontal position, anda carriage movable on said tracks 5. The combination with a receiving compartment, of a tubular, slotted rail fixed horizontally in the upper artv'o'. the compart- 4 AAber being provided lwitha slot' disposed in alinement with and connecting the slots of said rails, and a carriage having bearing in vvthe tubular rail and provided with a bracket zontal with adapted to travel in saidl slots.

` 6'.' In a wardrobe .or receiving compartment, the combination with a, fixedhorizon- `tal tubular rail therein, ofa tubular extension rail hinged thereto and adapted to be folded in the compartment when not in use and when extended for use to occupy a horiposition inalinement with the fixed rail, said rails being provided in their lower sides with slots disposed in alinernent when the 'extension rail occupies afhorizontal position, the hinge of the extension vrail being provided Iwith a slot disposed in'alineinent and connecting the slots of said rails, and a hanger-sustaining carriage provided with parts extending through said. slots and provided within' the rails with wheels which rest and roll on track surfaces constituted by i 1 the inner walls ol' the tubular rails. combination with a fixed horizontal tubular rail, of a 7. Ina Wardrobe or com artment, the

tubular extension rail hinged to the i Qxed rail and adapted to be folded in the l. said compartment when not in 40" use and to occupy a horizontal 4position in alin'ement with the fixed rail when extended for use, said rails being provided in their lower sides with slots which are in alinement when the extension rail occupies the horizontal position,'the hinge of the extension rail being provided with a slot in alinement with and connecting the said rail slots, and a hanger-sustaining carri'age rovided with arts.extendingthrougli saidv s ots and lprovid'ed within the rails with wheels which rest and roll on the track surfaces constituted by the inner wallsol the tubular rails, said wheels being beveled on their eripheries to engage the inner cylindric walls of the tubular rail.

S. ln a wardrobe or comA artment, the combination with a horizonte tubular rail and brackets fixed to the Wall of thel compartment in which said rail is mounted, the

racket at the open. side of the compartment being hollow to receive the adjacent end of the rail, of a tubularextension rail, a hinge 'for connecting said extension rail to said hollow bracket, said -fixed and extension. rails similarly slotted to provide a continuous slot from the inner end of the fixed rail to the outer end of the extension vrail, a carriage having parts extendingl through the slots which have bearing in t e'interior of ithetubular rail, and means for supporting the outerv tion. y i

9L In a wardrobe or compartment, thecombination with a ixed horizontal. `rail therein, of a hinged extension rail adapted to occupy and be sustained in ahorizontal position 1n alinement with the fixed rail,` a hinge for the extension rail comprising lugs or ears on the extension rail, hinged pins `extending through lugs or 'ears and into al art stationary with the fixed rail, one of said lugs beingl provided with an opening, andthe said fixe 'end of the extension rail in a horizontal posipart with a registering opening, a pin adapted to enter said registering opening .when the extension rail occupies a horizontal position, and a hanger sustaining .carriage movable on said rails. "21.

10, The combination with a reccivin compartment, ,of a fixed, horizontal ra' therein, an extension rail connected therewith and adapted to be folded into the compartment when not in use, a hanger. sustaining carriage supported by and movable on said fixed and extension rails, and a supporting standard hinged to the outer end of said extension rail perpendicular to the fixed rail` and constructed to be folded inside the compartment parallel withthe extension rail.

. 11. The ycombination with la receivin compartment, of a fixed, horizontal rai therein, an extension rail hinged directly to the 'fixed' rail' and adapted to be folded when not in use into the compartment, a hanger sustaining carriage supported by and movable on-said fixed .and extension rails, and a standard supporting the outer endof the extension rail and having telescopic connection therewith. l Y

12. The combination with a receivin compartment, ofA a fixed horizontal ra therein, an extension rail Yrhin ed directly to i'io the fixed rail and adapted to e folded when notin use into the compartment, ahanger sustaining carriage supported by' and movable on said fixed and extensionr rails, and a supporting standard hinged to thev outer end A of the extension rail and having telescopic connection therewith.

13. The combination with a receiving cornpartmcnt, of a fixed, horizontal rail therein, an extension rall connected therewith and adapted to be folded,when notin use', into'l the compartment, aI hanger sustainin Icarriage supported by and movable on said: ixed and extension rails, -a supporting standard hinged to the outer end of the extension rail, the said latter rail being tubular to receive being provided on their under sides with slots said standard and its liingo,' and means preand the hinge and said hollow bracket being l venting rotation oi'l said standard and Vits vpartment, of a fixed rail therein, an extension sliding hinge relatively to the tubular extension rail. a j 14. The combination with a receiving compartment, of a fixed horizontal rail therein, an extension rail`conneeted therewith and adapted/to be folded, when not in use, into the compartment, a hanger sustainin carriage supported by and movable on sai fixed and extension rails, and a supporting standard hinged to the outer end of the extension rail, the said latter rail being tubular to resei-,ve said standard and its hin e, said extension rail being longitudinally s otted -and one of the hinge members being provided with a lug ada ted to slidingly en age said slot.

15. e combination wit a receiving comrail hinged yto the fixed rail, a hanger suplporting carriage supported by and mova e on the fixed and extension rails, a supporting standard hinged to the outer end of said extension rail, said standard and itshinge hav-l ing telescopic connection with the extension rail.

16: The coinbinationwith a receiving compartment, of a fixed rail therein, a hin ed exv tension rail, and a su porting standard inged to the outer end of t ie extension rail, said extension rail 'being made hollow, the hinge 'therefor comprising a. block sliding longitudinally in the hollow extension rail, and a member on the standard having hinged connection with said block.

17. The combination with a receivingcompartment, of a fixed rail therein, a hinged extension rail, and a su )porting standard hinged to the outer end of the extension rail, said extension rail being made hollow and longitudinally slotted, thev hinge therefor com rising a block sliding longitudinally in the fiollow extension rail, a hinged member on the standard having hinged connection with said block, and a lug on said hinge-block engaging the slot in the extension rail.

18. The combination with a receiving compartment, of a fixed rail therein, a hinged extension rail, and a su porting standard hinged to the outer end of)the.extension rail, said extension rail being made hollow, the hinge therefor comprising a block sliding longitudinallyin the hollow extension rail, a member on the standard having hinged connection with said block, and a stop in the outer end of said extension rail for preventing complete withdrawal of said sliding block therefrom.

19. The combination with a receiving coinpartmeiit, of va fixed rail therein, a hinged extension rail and a su porting standard hinged to the outer end of t e extension rail, said extension rail being made hollow, the hinge therefor comprising a block sliding longitudinally in the 'hollow extension rail, a inember on the standard having hinged connection with said block, a stop in the outer end of said extension rail for preventing com lete withdrawal of said sliding block there rom,

Aand interlocking connections between said stop and sliding block preventing angular Vdisplacement of the block in said tubular ex- ,hinged extension rail, a supporting standard hinged to the outer end of the extension rail, said extension rail bein hinge comprising a bloc sliding longitudinally in said extension rail and provided with a hinge lug, a hinge lug on the upper end of the standard and a in extending through registering aperturesln said lugs, and a stop for limiting the outward movement of the block in said tubular extension rail, the upper end of' the standard engaging the outer end ofthe extension rail in a manner to closely confine said lsto between the standard and said sliding blocif.

'21. The combination "with a receiving compartment, of a fixed rail therein, an exmade hollow, the

and extension rails, a standard'for supporting the outer end of the extension rail and a foot or, base for said supporting standard having vertically adjustable connections with said standard.

22. The combination with a receiving compartment, of a fixed rail therein, an extension railliinged t0 the fixed rail, a hanger supporting carriage supported by and movable on the fixed and extension rails, a supporting standard hinged to the outer end of said extension rail, said standard and its hinge having telescopic connection With the extension rail, and a foot or base for the supporting standard having vertical adjustment' therewith.

23. The combination with a receiving com artment, of a fixed rail therein, an ,ex-l tension rail hinged to the fixed rail, a hanger supporting carriage supported by and movable on the fixed and extension rails, a supporting stand ardhinged to the outer end of said extension rail, said standard and its hinge having telescopic connection with the extension rail, afoot or base for said supporting standard embracing a shank that extends upwardly into the hollow standard and a pin on the shank adapted to releasably engage a notch in said standard.

24. The combination 'with a receiving compartment and a door for closing saine, of a fixed railiii said compartiment, an extension rail hinged thereto, a carriage movable on said rails, said extension rail being constructed and designed to be contained iii said horizontal extension of the fixed rail, including a looking pin engaged with the hinge of presence of two Witnesses, .this 4th day of said extension rail, said fixed and extension Agust A. D. 1906. rails boing formed with tracks or Ways which l CHARLES T. VVLT. are disposed in alinement when the exteni ELMER E. WLT.- 5 sion mil is in its horizontal positioin 5 Witnesses lntestimony, that We olaimthe foregoing Y TAYLOR BROWN, as our invention we affix our Signatures in the 1 GEORGE R. WILKINS. 

